May 5, 2025
In this episode, Janet Michael, host of The Valley Today, spoke with Jenny Grooms, the Executive Director for the foundations of Valley Health, about the innovative Stronger Together campaign. This initiative aims to enhance various aspects of healthcare in the Valley Health system, focusing on mental health, heart health, and extending care accessibility.
Valley Health, a nonprofit health system, relies on its foundation to segregate charitable dollars from operational funds. Jenny highlighted their recent projects at Warren Memorial Hospital, which features recreational trails and the Bedside Connect program. These initiatives underscore the dual importance of physical and mental well-being for both patients and healthcare staff. The trails offer a mental respite for the staff, while Bedside Connect minimizes the need for families to travel, allowing remote interactions with patients and doctors.
The Stronger Together campaign addresses three primary pillars - mental health, heart health, and accessibility. The mental health aspect emerged from a community health needs assessment, identifying mental health as a top priority. Plans include building a mental health pavilion with comprehensive outpatient programs. For heart health, the campaign will expand the heart and vascular center, adding procedure rooms and new technologies to improve treatments for conditions like atrial fibrillation. The accessibility pillar focuses on creating a mobile fleet for health clinics and mammography to reach underserved rural areas.
Valley Health is leveraging technology to bring healthcare directly to the community. The mobile mammography unit and the mobile health clinic are ground-breaking initiatives designed to overcome the barriers of distance and transportation, which are significant issues in the rural region. The mobile units offer services such as screenings and telehealth consultations, making it easier for individuals to receive timely care without the stress of extensive travel, thereby promoting better health outcomes.
Funding for the Stronger Together campaign has been a community-driven effort. The campaign, with an ambitious goal of raising $20 million over three years, has already secured $17.1 million during its initial phase. Contributions have come from various avenues such as individual donors, grants, and matching funds. Valley Health emphasizes flexible giving options, allowing donors to contribute through methods like IRAs, stocks, or even estate inclusion. Jenny explains that charitable giving not only benefits the community but also offers tax advantages to the donors. She encourages those interested to visit Valley Health’s website for detailed information and to explore diverse giving options.
The heartfelt conversation also shed light on how Valley Health ensures transparency and efficiency in utilizing donations. The collaborative efforts from medical staff, businesses, and community members are pivotal in achieving the campaign’s goals. Such collective participation underscores the campaign’s theme - being stronger together. Jenny affirmed that every contribution, no matter how small, plays a significant role in providing better healthcare infrastructure and services.
For more information or to make a contribution, community members are encouraged to visit Valley Health's website at valleyhealthlink.com/stronger. The online portal offers easy navigation to learn more about the campaign, its impact, and how to get involved.